Utica Blue Bags, Solid Waste Fees Going Up

Utica city residents will soon be paying more for blue garbage bags and solid waste user fees.

William Rabbia of the Oneida Herkimer Solid Waste Authority says starting April 1, 2018, small and large Utica blue bags will increase 15-cents each - from 95-cents to $1.10 for small, and from $1.55 to $1.70 for large.

Additionally, solid waste user fees paid by homeowners are increasing. This fee allows Utica residents to place old electronics, furniture and other items at the curb with their bagged-garbage each week and be collected at no additional charge. The fee increase is as follows:

Single family home fees to increase from $79 to $86 annuall
Two family home fees to increase from $158 to $172 annuall
Class 3 property (more than 2 family homes and commercial property) fees increasing from $237 to $258 annually

The increases were approved earlier this week by the Utica Common Council, the Utica Observer Disptach reports.

Rabbia tells WIBX that Utica's blue bag system dates back to 1988 when the city became one of the first in the nation to implement a 'Pay As You Throw' operation. He says while there is still a solid waste fee, the 'Pay As You Throw' bag system is a more fair way to distribute the overall cost.

For example, a family of six would likely have more waste, and need to buy more thrash collection blue bags than a senior citizen living alone.

Rabbia is scheduled to join Keeler in the Morning on Wednesday.